Tave adolphe canet



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented June 12, 1894.

J.B.G.A.GANET.

(No Model.)

AUTOMATIGALLY OPERATED BREEGH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

Jean/B Q A.Ca/7Le Z.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. B. e. A/CANET. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED BRBEOH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

Patented June 12,1894.

5 Sheets-Sheet s.

(No del.)

J.B.G.A.GANET. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED BRBEGH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

Patented June (No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. B. G. A. (JANET. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED BREE-OH MEGHANISM FOR GUNS.

Patented June 12. 1894.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. B. G. A. OANET.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED BREEGH MECHANISM FOR GUNS. No. 521,400. Patented June 12, 1894.

am 2044.. m.

' 5 plan view of the same.

JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE OANET, PARIS, FRAN Uh), ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE SIR JOSEPH OPENSI-IAWV, ENGLAND.

WIIITWORTII'dZF COMPANY, LIMITED, OF

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATED BREECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,4oo, dated June 12, 1894.

Application filed May 17, 1893. No, 474,530. (No model.) Patented in France December 1, 1887! and in England February 11, 1888,11'0. 2,075. I 7

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JEAN BAPTISTE GUs- TAVE ADOLPHE CANET, a citizen of France, residing at Paris, France, have invented cer- 5 tain new and useful Improvements in Breech Mechanism for Guns, (for which I have obtained patents in Great Britain, No. 2,075, dated February 11, 1888, and in France, No. 187,908, dated December 31, 1887,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of breech-loading guns wherein the breech is antomatically opened by the'movements of the.

gun when fired, and the object of the present 15 invention is to provide new and improved means for automatically opening'the breech V of a quick firing gun by the recoil and running out movements of the gun; v To accomplish this objectmy invention congo sists in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- I 2 Figure 1 is abroken side elevation of agun embodying my invention, the parts being in normal position. Fig. l. is a broken detail view, showing the breech-block closed as in Fig. l. Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation, 0 showing the gun after firing and recoiling.

" Fig. '3 is a similar view, showing the gun in counter-recoil position, or after it has moved forward nearly to its'normal position. Fig. 3 is a detail broken top plan view, showing 3 5 the breech-block open, as in Fig. 3. Fig. 4is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the breech-block actuating mechanism, the parts being in normal position. Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the parts in the position they o occupy when the gun has recoiled. Fig. 6 is a detail top plan view, showing the parts in the position exhibited in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a rear endelevation of the breech of the gun, the breech-block being closed. Fig. 8 is atop Fig. 9 is a sectional plan View, showing a modification of my invention wherein I employ a hydraulic cylinder. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the hydraulic cylinder, indicating the pivot-pin about which said cylinder can turn; and Fig. 5o 11 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 1010, Fig. 10.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawa sleeve secured thereto by a pin D which passes through and works in the slot D A tube 13- is pivoted at its forward end to a bracket E secured to the non-recoiling mount of the gun, and this tube passes throughand is guided by the sleeve D A secondary tube E is arranged withinthe tube E to slide longitudinally therein. Ihe secondary tube E is secured at its forward end to a'rod F which extendsthe whole length of the outer 7 5 2 tube and passes out through the rear end thereof and is pivoted or coupled at its rear extremity at F to a horizontal lever G, which I term a secondary lever and which is pivoted with a'capability of turning on the axle Sa H of the bracket H which carries the breechblock and constitutes a hinge therefor. A stop-pin G is fixed to the lever G, and is adapted to bear against the end of the gun for the purpose of limiting the forward turn- 8 5 ing movement of the lever G.

I is the main breechbperating lever, and I the axisthereof.

The breech-block B, the main lever I, and other essential parts of the breech mechanism, not illustrated in detail herein, are substantially the same as described and shown in Letters Patent No. 447,228, issued February 24, 1891.

The secondary lever G carries a roller G adapted to bear against the leverI for a purpose hereinafter specified. Between the forward end of the tube E and the rear end of the tube E is compressed a spring F ,'Figs..4

and 5. y

K is a ring secured to the tube E and to which are pivoted two, three or more hooked catches K, each of which is acted upon by a spring K to depress the hooked forward end thereof and force the same through an opening K in the side of the tube E, one such opening being provided for each catch. Corresponding openings K are also provided in the inner tube E for a purpose hereinafter specified.

ing side of which recessis adapted to engage 5 L is a sleeve mounted and capable of slidmg for a limited distance on the tube E.

L, Fig. 6, is a springthat is compressed between said sleeve and the fixed ring, K and that operates to force the sleeve rearwardly against a fixed stop formed by a ring L secured to the tube E. i L Figs. 4 and 5, is a conical recess formed in'the forward face of the sleeve L, the slopand rear ends respectively of the tubes E '13, Upon the counter recoil or forward movement of the gun, the rod F is free to slide back into the tube E until it is arrestedbythe catches K, the hooked ends of which fall into the openings K in the tube E and lock the said rod. The gun, however, still continues to move forward, and as the rod F is locked by the catches K, the lever G is thereby turned about its pivot andits roller G is pressed against andturns the main lever I and opens the breech. Just.

prior to the completion of the running out ofthe gun, as in Fig. 3, the stud M presses against and pushes forward the sleeve L and thus operates to close in the tail ends of the catches K and raise the hooked ends thereof out of the holes in the tube E whereupon "'the said tube and rod F are immediately driven forward by the spring F and the 1e ver G is thereby restored to its initial position. The breech can then be closed by hand. The hooked ends of the catches are kept raised so long as the gun is run out, but immediately the recoil takes place-the stud M recedes from the sleeve L and the latter is then forced back by the spring L to release 'thecatches and allow them to operate as above described.

Inthe modification of myinvention, shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, I provide a hydraulic" device for opening the breech during the running out of the gun.

N is a hydraulic cylinder which is pivoted at its forward end at -N- to the stationary sleeve A through which the gunslides. N is a piston working therein.

N is the piston-rod which is coupled to the lever G that actuates the breech-block operating lever, as hereinbefore explained. Passages N are formed through the piston to admit of the free flow of the liquid therethrough during recoil.

0 is a valve mounted to slide on the pistonrod N between the piston 1:1 and a stop N fixed on the rod. One or more small holes 0' are providedin the valve 0, which holes admit of a reduced fiow of liquid through the valvewhen the gun is running out. The

piston-rod passes out through apacked gland N in the forward end of the cylinder, and on it is mounted a spring F which tends to force the rod forward. WVhen the gun recoi'ls, the liquid passes freely through the passages N and raises the valve-0 from its seat, but on the commencement of the run ning out, the valve 0 is immediately forced to its seat against the piston N and would close the passages N but' for the small orifices O in the valve. These-orifices allow of a return flowof liquid, but being very small the flow is retarded; consequently the piston N cannot travel forward as fast as the gun and it therefore afiordsra support or abutmentfor the lever G and causes the said lever to turnabout its axis H and open the breech as above described. As soon vas the running out iscompleted, the spring F operates to return-the lever G to its initial position, leaving the breech free to be closed by the gunner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with arecoiling gun, a I

non-recoiling mount, and a breech-block, of a main lever'for operating thebreech-block, a secondary leverconnected to the breech and acting upon the said main lever, alengthwise movable rod connected with the secondary lever, and means for holding the rod during the running out of the gun for causing the secondaryvlever to act on said main lever and open its the breech-block, substantially as described.

. 2. The combinationwith a recoiling gun, a non-rec'oiling mount, and a hinged breechblock, of a lever for operating the breechblock, a secondary lever connected at one end to the hinge of the breech-block and acting at the opposite end age inst the said main lever, a lengthwise moving rod pivoted to the secondary lever, and means for holding the rod during the running out of the gun for causing the secondary lever to act on said mainv lever and open the breecl1-block, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a recoiling gun, a non-recoiling mount, and a hinged breechblock, of a main lever foroperating the breechblock, a secondary lever pivotedto the hinge of the breech-block and bearing against the said main lever, a stop G for limiting the 01 r ward movement of the secondary lever, a rod F connected to the secondarylever, and means for locking the rod during the running out of r the gun, for causing-the secondary lever to act on said main lever and open the breechblock, substantially as described.

1. The combination with a recoiling gun,-a non-recalling mount, and a'hinged breechblock, of a main lever for operating the breechblock, a secondary leverconnected with the hinge of the breech-block and bearin g against the said main lever,'a-st0pG for limiting the forward movement of the secondary lever, a tube E hinged to a part of the non-recoilin g mount, a rod F pivoted to the secondary lever and adapted to slide in said tube,'springcatches K for locking the .rod 'to the tube during the running'out of the gun, and means for releasing the spring catches from the'rod, substantially as described.

5, The combination-with a recoiling gun, a

.non-recoiling' mount, and a hinged breechblock, of a main lever for operating the breechblock, a secondary leverconnected to the him go of the breech-block and acting upon the said main lever, a stop G for limiting the forward movement of the secondary lever, a tube E hinged to a part of the non-recoili'ngmou nt,

a rod F pivoted to the secondary lever and adapted to slide in the tube, spring catches K pivoted to the tube-and adapted to lock JEAN'BAIT'IST'E GUSTAVE. ADOLrHEcANE Witnesses:

R031. M. HOOPER, A.- DROCROLFn 

